Loose-leaf book.



PATENTED FEB. 6, SGS.

G. H.'MANGER. LOOSE LEAP 300K. unicum! num 11u23. ma.

wzesses waff UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. MANGER, OF DES MOINES, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO JOI-IN W'EBER, JR., OF DES MOINES, IOWA.

LOOSE-LEAF BOOK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 6, 1906.

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. MANGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dos Moines, in the county of Polk and State oi Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful Loose-Leaf Book, of which the following is a specification.

My object is to provide a book of the class in which the leaves are held together by means of coilrings passed through o enings therein and) ivotally connected at t ieir ends with the si es of the book-binding, so that the book may` open flat and so that the leaves may be bodily removed with the springs in position to serve as permanent con necting means for the leaves after 'they have been removed from the cover.

A further object is to provide an expansible back-frame for the book whereby it may be adapted for books oi different thicknesses and also to provide means for locking said expansible back to prevent the removal of the leaves; and my object is, further, to provide attachments for the connecting-springs by which they may be prevented from curv- Ain and yet be permitted to expand freely.

y invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects oontemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 shows a plan view of the expansible back-frame with the leaf-retaining springs in position. Fig. 2 shows a central longitudinial sectional view of the back-frame. Fig. 3 shows a central transverse sectional view through the central portion of the book, the book being shown in its flat. open position. Fi 4 shows a similar view with the expansib in its extended position and with the means for holdin the springs against bending, the leaves o the book spaced apart at their central portions, Fi 5 shows a transverse sectional Vw ,of the ook in its closed position. Fi 6 shows a detail perspective view of one o? the spring-Stilfmlg rods with its detachable cap. Fig. 7 shows a side eleration of samewitha s rin connected therewith, Fig. 8 shows a etai perspective view of the key, and Fig, 9 shows a detail perspec tive view of the look device.

The expansible back-frame comprises two outer members 1() and a central member 11, the outer ones capable of sliding in and out over the member 11. At the ends of the member 11 are the end pieces 12, extended iirst upwardly, then inwardly, and then downwardly, and on the ends oi the parts 12 are the end pieces 13, which are slidin ly mounted in the parts 12. At the outer Si es of the parts 10 are the outwardly-extended side pieces 14, provided with-loops 15 at their tops, said loops on each part 10 being in line and designed to receive a detachable rod, hereinafter described. In the central portion of the art 11 are the longitudinal slots 1?, and be ow the art 11 is a longitudinally-arranged sliding liar 18, provided with pins 19, extended upwardly through the slots 1?'. These ins are pvotally connected to the arms 2,w ich arms extend outwardly and are pivoted to the parts 10, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. In order to prevent these movable arms from coming into contact with the back of the leaves, I rovide a shield 20fi to inolose said arms, wli

between it and the arts 10 and 1l arge enough to permit sai arms 20 to freely move therein. By this arrangement a lon itudinal ich shield has its edges resting on the parts 10 and has a s ace movement of the parts 18 in one irection will cause the arms 2O to bring the sides 10 toward each other, while a movement of the part 18 in the opposite direction will spread the parts 10.

Secured to the under surface of the part 11 is the segmental back-piece 21, formed with a longitudinal o ening 22 to receive the bar 18. On one end o the bar 18 is a lock extension 23, formed with a key-opening 24. The part 18, with its extension 23, is wholly inclosed within the back 21, except for the keyhole 25, in line with the keyhole 24. The form of key used in connection with this form of device comprises a straight shank 26 with a rightangled extension 27 on one end and a shoulder 28 near its central portion, said shoulder being large enough to pass through the keyhole 25, but not through the keyhole 24, and the space between the shoulder 28 and the part 27 is of substantially the same length as that of the part 23, so that the key may be passed through the keyhole 25 and through the keyhole 24 and then turned at right angies, whereupon the part 18 may he moved longitudinally in either direction by means IOO IOS

of said ke'y. In this way the part 23 is made to serve t e pur ose of a central lock.

The sides of t e book are indicated by the numeral 29 and are connected with the sides 14 of the expansible back-frame. l. connect the leaves wlth the expansible back-frame by extending through them the contractible coil-springs 30. At each end of each spring is a cap substantially hemispherical in shape (indicated by the numeral 31) and having an opening 32 extending through it and also having on its flat side the arms 33, extending first inwardly toward each other and then again at right angles to the flat side, said ends parallel wlth each other. I connect these caps with the springs 3() by placing the end colls of said sprlngs between the flat sides of the caps 31 and the parts of the arms 33 paralle] with said flat sldes, as clearly shown in Fig. 7. This may be uickly and easily done by inserting the end o a coll inside of one of the arms 33 and then turning the coil with a screw-like movement. The ends of the arms 33 farthest from the cap will stand inside of Athe coil, as shown, in Fig. 7. In this way the caps are firmly but detachably connected with the coils. I attach the caps to the sides of the expansible back by means of rods 34, which pass through the loops 15 and through the openings 32 in the caps 31. In this wa a pivotal detachable connection is provide and all of the springs ma be ulckly detached from the expansiblia bacli-frame' by withdrawing the rods 34.

In some instances it is desirable to prevent the coil-s rings from curving, as shown in Fig. 3, W en the book is open, and yet it is desirable to have s rings that will expand. For this pur ose place in the two end springs 30 sti ening-rods extending from the end toward the center, and in the central spring 30 I provide a stifening-rod to extend across the center of the spring to brace near its ends, so that the stiffening-rods in the end spring will prevent the sprin s from curving near their ends, while the sti ening-spring in the central rod will prevent the springs from curving at their central portions. These end stifening-rods each comprise a head 35 and a shank 36, said head designed to enter between the arms 33 and engage the shoulders in said arms, as clearly shown in Figs 6 and 7. I place the stiffening-rods in the caps first, as shown in Fig. 6, and then insert the rod in the end of the spring 30 and place the end of the coil between one of the arms 33 and the head 35 of the stiffening-rod and then by a twisting movement turn the spring to the osition shown in Fig. 7, thus securely hol ing the stifening-rod in the spring. The central stiffening-rod (indicated by the numeral 37) consists simply of a smooth round rod inserted in the central portions of the central spring.

In practical use and assuming that it is desired to use the book as a loose-leaf flat-opening book I assemble the parts with the stiffemng-rods, as shown in Fig. 3, the leaves being provided with o enings to receive the springs 3() and slotte from the said openings to the adjacent leaves thereof in the ordinary Way. The said springs serve to hold the sides of the back-frame together, and when the book is open the ends of the springs will turn on the rods 34 and the central ortions of the springs will curve upwardly, t us permitting the book to open flat. The elastic ity of the springs will permit the book to be enlarged within certain limits, and if it is desired to remove some of the leaves the sides of the expansible back may be separated by moving the bar 18 longitudinally, as before explained, and then removing the leaves in the ordinary Way. If it is desired to bodily remove all of the leaves, I simply withdraw both the rods 34 and then remove the leaves, leaving the springs in position therein to serve as a permanent binder therefor, the caps on the springs holding the leaves toether. If it is desired to prevent the springs om curving, as shown in Fig. 3, and vet provide a loose-leaf book, leaves of the same kind are used and the stiffening-rods inserted in the springs, as before explained. If it is desired to provide a book in which the individual leaves cannot be removed, then leaves are provided with openings for the springs, but not with slots extending from the openings to the mar ins. When the leaves are in position in the ook, the sides of the expansible back-frame are locked in position, so that the back cannot be expanded for the purpose of removing the leaves.

I aving thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States therefor, is-

1. In a book, the combination of a backframe, rods detachably connected with said back-frame, coil-springs, caps on the ends of the coil springs, having said rods passed through them to pivotally connect them with the back-frame.

2. In a book, the combination of a backframe, rods at the sides of the back-frame, coil-springs and caps for the coil-springs, each provided with a head formed with an opening to receive a rod and also formed with arms extended away from the head, then toward each other forming shoulders designed to engage the coils of the springs and secure the ca s to the springs, said rods passed throu the openings in said caps.

3. Fn a book, the combination of a backframe, coil-sprin s connected at their ends to the sides of the ack-frame and two stiflening-rods detachably inserted in the ends of the springs, and spaced apart at the centers of the springs.

4. In a book, the combination of a backrame, coil-springs connected at their ends to IOO the sides of the back-freine and two stieningarods et the opposite ends of one of the springs and une stiii'ening-rod et the central portion of one of the springs,

5. ln a hook the combination of a, beckreine, rods detaeiinhly eonneeted to the sides ol the liaek-fran'ie, e number of coilsprings, caps for the. ends of the coil-springs eeeh comprising e body portion refined with en opening; to receive seid rod and else 'formed with :inns having shoulders thereon to receive the ends ol' the eoil-sp1ings,headed still'ening-rods inserted in some of seid mins, seid heads engaged by the shoulders end e, stillening-rod et the central portion of one of the coil-springs.

6. ln e book, e hack-frame comprising e central strip formed with longitudinal slots and with its ends inclined upwardly, inwardliY and dmvnwerdly, side pieces slidingly connected with the eentrnl piece and provided with side margins formed with loops and end 11i-argine slidingly inserted in the end portions ni' the Central pieve, the sliding ber helenY the central piece, pins passed through z the slots in the iornier piece, arms pi'voted to said pins extended ontwnrdly end pivoted te the side pieees of the freine whereby longitudinal inoveinent of the ber will inove the side. pieces inwardly end outwardlyrr yrelative te eneh other and minitraetible Coil-springs eenn nented to the upturned side edges oi the side pieces.

T. In e hook, a beek-freine comprising e central strip formed with longitudinal siete and with its ends inclined npwerdijg! inwardly and downward l y, side pieces slidingly connected with the central piece and provided with side margins `formed with loops and end inerfrins slidingly inserted in the end portions of central piece, the sliding;r ber below the central piece, pins passed through the slots in the central piece| arms piveted te seid pins extended outwardly sind pivoted te the side pieces el the frame whereby longitudinal inovenient of the bar will more the side pieces inwardly and ontwnrdlj,f relative to each other end e locking-lng formed with e, keyhole eonneeted to seid har.

In n hook, e beek-freine comprising e central strip ferined with longitudinal slots and with its ends inclined upwardly, inwardly end downwardly, side pieees siidingly eonneeted with the Central piece and provided with side margins formed with loops end end inergins slidingljvY inserted in the end portions of the central piece, the sliding har below the central piene, pins passed through the slots in the Central piece, arms pivoted to seie pins extended outwardly sind pirated to thd side pieces of the traine whereby lwimgitudin el nievenient of the ber will inove the side Jieees inwardly and ontwerdlg-v relative to each other, n locking-lug l'orined With ey keyhole ennneeted to said bar, a beek-pieve vonneeted With the seid central portien of the heeiwireine, seid hack-piece inrined with e reeess to receive the sliding lier and lockingliig, seid beek-piece else ierrned with n lief;- heie in line. with that of the looking-lug;K

GEORGE H. MANGER.

W'itnesees JULIA B. Senese?, ARTHUR E. W'OODY 

